Reviews

Like many, my Destiny 2 enthusiasm has had ups and downs. I’ll usually hop in every other season or expansion and try it out for a bit before inevitably going back to spending my time in another game. I rarely even get close to max power. But with The Witch Queen, things might be different. Thanks to a refreshingly engaging campaign, a new weapon type, and new endgame content, Bungie has knocked it out of the park with its latest expansion. Be sure to hit the video below to see all of the details. 

Entering as the largest LEGO Star Wars set of 2022 so far, the Boba Fett’s Throne Room kit just hit store shelves at the beginning of the month. As one of the year’s more anticipated creations since first being rumored last year, we’re finally taking a hands-on look at the new over 700-piece creation to see how it stacks up.

Late last year, Voxelab, a subsidiary of FlashForge, launched the Aquila S2 as an upgrade to its popular Aquila line of 3D printers. Offering numerous upgrades over the previous generation, the S2 model now offers a direct-drive extruder with an all-metal hotend capable of reaching 300C, which is the headlining feature of the printer. So, without further ado, here’s our hands-on review of the Voxelab Aquila S2 3D printer, and our decision on whether this is the perfect place for a beginner to start, or if you should look elsewhere to begin a 3D printing journey.

Secretlab might be one of the most well-known names when it comes to the iconic high-backed style gaming chair. While I’ve tried some from Vertagear and AndaSeat in the past, the $549 Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 is the first time I’ve considered using a so-called “gaming chair” as my main seat for all-day work and play. Be sure to hit the video below to see all of the details. 

A bit late to the game, OtterBox just launched its first MagSafe-compatible Power Bank. Waiting for other manufactures to show their hands first, the new release arrives with a first of its kind feature set centered around its passthrough MagSafe charging. But was it worth the wait? Our latest Tested with 9to5Toys review explores what to expect.

UST or ultra-short throw projectors offer an interesting take as an alternative to large traditional TVs. While I’ve tried a few, the AWOL LTV-3500 is the first time I’ve actually thought this could replace a TV. That probably is mostly to do with the 3500 peak lumens that this UST projector can put out combined with an ALR screen, but the colors are also almost startlingly vivid for a projector. The Indiegogo campaign is in full swing and offers some deep discounts off of the MSRP. Be sure to hit the video below and see all of the details. 

Today we are taking a hands-on look at the Peak Design canvas iPhone 13 case and the brand’s collection of accessories for it. After reviewing its latest travel gear recently, we thought it would be a good idea to see what it’s lineup of mobile accoutrements and Everyday canvas iPhone 13 cases had in store. The MagSafe-ready cover works alongside a series of additional add-ons and you’ll find all of the details you need in the latest Tested with 9to5Toys down below. 

Update: After launching on Friday, you can now lock-in a discount on Pokémon Brilliant Stars. The 36-pack Booster Box is down to $134.74 (Reg. $150) and the Elite Trainer Box is down to $39.99 (Reg. $45). Both are all-time lows and the first discounts.

Today, the Pokemon Company is officially dropping the latest expansion to its popular TCG. Brilliant Stars arrives as the latest set from the trading card game with an entirely new assortment of Pokémon based around Sword and Shield with some Legends: Arceus action sprinkled in for good measure. While stores will likely be sold out of the new cards, there’s still plenty of ways to get in on the launch day action at Amazon and other retailers. Head below for everything you can expect from the Pokémon Brilliant Stars TCG expansion as well as some highlights from the set.

Earlier this year, the new Arc Pulse case launched to give iPhone 13 owners a sleek alternative to not rocking a cover at all. Wrapping your handset in an ultra-minimal form-factor, its high-end titanium build offers added protection without all of the usual bulk. But is the premium build worth a fittingly steep price tag? Our latest Tested with 9to5Toys review is on the case.

Update: The new Positive Grid Spark mini Bluetooth speaker and guitar amp is now up for pre-order with a notable launch discount at $185. Regularly $229, Positive Grid says the discounts will be changing throughout the day, but it might not get any better than this. 

Today, Positive Grid is unveiling its brand new Spark MINI smart guitar amp. The smaller, more compact little brother of the full-size Spark practice amp brings the brand’s usual smart features and doubles as a retro, guitar-amp-style Bluetooth speaker. The Spark MINI also provides audio interface capabilities for folks looking to record with its breadth of amp emulation and FX gear. We have been lucky enough to get an early run of the amp to test before it is unveiled today. Read all about the Spark MINI smart guitar amp in our latest Tested with 9to5Toys review below. 

If the top-tier G915 from Logitech is outside of your budget, one of its latest keyboard offerings might be a better choice. Logitech’s new G413 SE comes in at $80 for the full-size layout and $70 for the TKL flavor but still packs the pedigree of one of the most well-known gaming brands. Be sure to hit the video below to see all of the details. 

Earlier this month, CORSAIR launched its latest internal SSD which took aim at PS5 users looking to supplement the console’s storage. Now that Horizon Forbidden West launched this past weekend with nearly 90GB of required space to enjoy the highly-anticipated sequel, I put CORSAIR’s new MP600 PRO LPX SSD to the test for solving storage woes. Head below for the full scoop on what to expect from the process.

If you’ve been lucky enough over the past year or so to pick up a next-generation console, then you’re likely looking for the best way to visually experience 4K HDR 120Hz gaming at home. While many TVs offer this feature, Philips decided to enter the game with a monitor it built in partnership with Microsoft that’s specifically designed for Xbox consoles. With HDMI 2.1, 120Hz VRR support, HDR, and built-in backlighting, this monitor offers a premium experience, but is it worth the price? Let’s take a look at the Philips Momentum Made for Xbox monitor in our hands-on review.

Elgato recently refreshed its Stream Deck with an MK.2 model, which caught my eye as a notable Twitch streaming companion. And then I started thinking how well it would work in my Mac workstation. Our latest Tested with 9to5Toys review dives in to just how this gaming accessory can upgrade your macOS productivity.

We’ve seen plenty of companies expanding into the podcasting and streaming audio space like NZXT, but today we’re taking a look at another player. The new Deity VO-7U is a dynamic broadcast microphone aimed directly at streamers and podcasters with RGB lighting built-in and some other handy features up its sleeve. Be sure to hit the video below to see and hear all of the details. 

One of my first dedicated PC “headsets” was a pair of Audio-Technica ATH-M50x’s that I used for editing with a mod mic attached to the side when gaming. Since then, Audio-Technica has come out with some dedicated gaming headset offerings like the wireless ATH-G1WL we reviewed. Today we’re taking a look at the latest headsets from Audio-Technica – the ATH-GL3 closed-back headset and its open-back variant the ATH–GDL3. Coming in at a much more affordable price point than gaming headsets of the past, how do they stack up? From my experience, it’s a mixed bag. Be sure to hit the video below to see all of the details.

Earlier this month Peak Design unveiled the latest additions to its travel lineup with the new 65L Travel Duffle, Wash Pouch, a 30L Travel Backpack, and packing cubes to go with them. The latest entries to the line expand the existing family of travel companions with organization options, larger sizes, and an enhanced feature set overall. After having a chance to go hands-on with the 65L Travel Duffle and some of the packing cubes, it’s time to weigh in as part of our Tested with 9to5Toys series. Head below for a closer look. 

While phones are getting better at stabilizing video by themselves, adding a gimbal can almost always make a vast improvement for smooth camera movements. We’ve tried out some of its smaller entry-level phone gimbals in the past, but today we’re checking out the Zhiyun Smooth 5. Starting at $170, it’s considerably more expensive than the Smooth Q3 that we reviewed last year but packs some more features that take this mobile gimbal to the next level. Be sure to hit the video below to see all of the details. 

After launching its first webcam last year, Anker was back to kick off 2022 with the debut of its latest, and even more capable, workstation upgrade. The new Anker B600 Video Bar arrives with a 2K webcam sensor on top of an integrated LED light bar and more. But does all of that stack up to a worthwhile Mac upgrade? Our latest Tested with 9to5Toys review takes a closer look.

While Joby might be most well known for the Gorillapod made popular by boosted board vloggers like Casey Neistat, recently it has been expanding its lineup of offerings for content creators. We went hands on with the mobile vlogging kit that included a light and a microphone, but now Joby is out with a huge line of audio gear for almost any creator. Be sure to hit the video below to hear how these new Joby Wavo mics sound in action.

Update: The new Positive Grid Spark mini Bluetooth speaker and guitar amp is now up for pre-order with a notable launch discount at $185. Regularly $229, Positive Grid says the discounts will be changing throughout the day, but it might not get any better than this. 

Today we are diving into our review of the Positive Grid RIFF guitar audio interface. Positive Grid is best known for its intelligent smart guitar amp products that offer instrumentalists a wonderful practice and recording setup tightly integrated with the brand’s wealth of high-tech jam-along and tone emulation software. The new RIFF interface packs much of this integration into a small audio interface for Mac, Windows, and iOS musicians at an even more affordable price tag. We featured the newly unveiled guitar USB interface at launch alongside a nice introductory price drop offer, but now it’s time to take a closer hands-on look in our Positive Grid RIFF review as part of the latest entry in the Tested with 9to5Toys series. 

After a delayed launch at the beginning of the year, we’re officially wrapping up our look at the LEGO Star Wars January wave by checking out the new Ahsoka Tano BrickHeadz. First introduced in The Clone Wars before making the jump to live-action in The Mandalorian, the latest brick-built character arrives as the 150th installment in the BrickHeadz series following a fan vote. But is that fanfare worthy of the final product? Head below for more.

Samsung refreshed its lineup of memory cards in the latter portion of last year with its new PRO Plus and EVO Plus microSD solutions alongside some full-size SD cards. Designed for content creators and getting extra storage in that Android handset, they’ll even help store some console games on-the-go within the usual thumbnail-sized form factor. While not the fastest options on the market, they can be affordable on a per-GB basis with respectful transfer speeds, a solid 10-year warranty, and Samsung’s 6-proof protection ratings. Head below for a closer look at the new PRO Plus and EVO Plus microSD solutions in the latest Tested with 9to5Toys review. 

Portable projectors are a great way to add some functionality to your entertainment setup. They work great at home plugged in for movie night, but the uses go much further than that. Taking a camping trip and want to watch a movie under the stars? Want to have your friends over for a movie but don’t want to be indoors? With built-in batteries, portable projectors open up a new world of possibilities. We’ve taken a look at our fair share of portable projectors on 9to5Toys, and the AAXA M7 projector offers an impressive feature list for the price. Be sure to hit the video below to see all the details.

This past week, the latest and arguably most defining chapter of the Pokémon franchise was released with Legends: Arceus. Taking a bold new direction for the series, the latest installment arrives with an open-world focus, loads of unique mechanics, and an entire new region to explore. If you’re still deciding whether Pokémon Legends: Arceus is worth adding to your collection, check out our insights from a weekend spent exploring the world of Hisui.

New Wave Toys’ latest miniature retro arcade cabinet is the 1943 X RepliCade overhaul edition. Officially licensed by Capcam, this $170 1/6th scale cabinet features the same impeccable attention to detail that New Wave Toys has put into all of its cabinets in the past. We took a look at the 1942 X RepliCade most recently, but be sure to check out the video and see all of the attention to detail New Wave Toys has put on the 1943 X RepiCade cabinet. 

The latest model SanDisk Professional 2TB G-DRIVE ArmorATD protective hard drive is in the spotlight today. Solid-state portable solutions have become far more affordable than year’s past, but they still, for the most part, can’t quite compete with the per TB pricing on traditional hard drives. The G-DRIVE ArmorATD lineup offers up a rugged solution for content creators and more at a relatively affordable cost of entry, but are the far slower transfers speeds compared to that of its SSD brethren worth the savings? Are hard drives even still a worth while investment? Let’s see if the ArmorATD brings enough to the table in other aspects for it to be worth your time. Head below for our hands-on review of the latest-generation SanDisk Professional 2TB G-DRIVE ArmorATD protective hard drive

Earlier this week we took a hands-on look at the new LEGO Clone Command Station set, and today the second of its new Star Wars Accessory Packs is finally available for purchase after facing delays to start 2022. But nearly a month late, has all of this wait been worth it? To answer, we’re taking a hands-on look to see just how the Rebel garrison supplements stack up compared to their Imperial-focused counterparts.

Beyerdynamic’s most recent additions to its gaming lineup are the entry-level MMX 100 and MMX 150 headsets. With a simple feature set and coming in at $100 and $150 respectively, they have plenty of similar features with a few key differences. With Beyerdynamic’s rich heritage of premium audio, how do they stack up in their price range? Be sure to hit the video below to see all of the details. 

Our Tested with 9to5Toys series has gone hands-on with other iPhoneography gear in the past, and JOBY’s new GripTight MagSafe Mounts are the latest to be thrown into the gauntlet. Centered around the headlining feature of MagSafe support for iPhone 13 handsets, we’re finding out if the new releases are worthy additions to your photography setup, or just the latest accessories to get in on the MagSafe fad.

Originally slated to launch at the start of 2022, the eagerly-awaited LEGO Clone Command Station pack is now available. But with so much fanfare and hype surrounding the first Star Wars accessory pack, is the $15 Clone Trooper Command Station actually worth adding to your collection in the first place, let alone buying multiple?

Wyze is quickly becoming a household name in affordable home surveillance, and last year the company updated one of its popular cameras with the Wyze Cam Pan v2. Much like the Wyze Cam v3 that we reviewed, the Cam Pan v2 takes a similar design from its earlier version and upgrades it with a new sensor that can nearly see in color in the dark and the ability to pan 360°. Like many of Wyze’s products, it’s packed with features for the $39.99 price tag ($50 on Amazon). Be sure to check out the video below to see all of the details. 

Late last fall, the folks at Bowers & Wilkins resurrected one of the most iconic speakers in the company’s stable, or really any other brand’s for that matter. Fifteen years after its first introduction, the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin is making a second debut with new modern features like AirPlay 2 – all in that classic and utterly novel design. But, is the Zeppelin’s signature look all it’s cracked up to be, even with some refreshed functionality?

DJI might be best known for drones and camera stabilizers, but it is also branching out into audio. The DJI Mic kit has everything needed to get great wireless audio from up to two people at the same time. While it’s a great accessory for the recent DJI Action 2, the vast compatibility makes it a great choice for many applications. Be sure to hit the video below to see and hear all of the details. 

The SanDisk Extreme Portable Solid-State Drive lineup has been considered to be the best portable SSD products out there by many for at least a few years now. The latest-generation V2 iterations come in a standard and PRO configurations with the main differences landing, for the most part, in the data transfer speeds and build material categories. Nonetheless, both models are easily among the best portable SSD solutions for just about anyone’s EDC, whether you’re a photographer, video-based content creator, or just someone looking for a high-quality solution for speedy backups and on-person storage – some folks even use them to store PS5 games and the like. But with a chance to go hands-on with the SanDisk 2TB Extreme PRO Portable Solid-State Drive V2 recently, I just had to get a closer look and finally put the seemingly best-in-class portable SSD lineup to the test for myself.

Cherry is probably most known for mechanical switches, but Cherry Americas also carries an impressive line-up of peripherals. One of the latest releases, the Cherry DW 9100 Slim, takes a slim and stylish approach to a keyboard and mouse combo with both a wireless dongle and Bluetooth connectivity. Coming in at $109, is this the best combo for the office? Be sure to hit the video below to see all of the details. 

Anker’s new MagGo car mount recently launched as the brand’s latest MagSafe offering. It’s arriving with a steep price tag, so we’re taking a hands-on look to see if the premium solution is actually worth the cost for complementing your iPhone 13. Our latest Tested with 9to5Toys review fully investigates.

I’m a fan of the HyperX SoloCast – I’ve used it in many of my review videos to record my voice. It’s small, simple, sounds great, and it is affordable. My only complaints in my dedicated review were around the stand and impact noise transferring from the desk. Luckily, there are some simple upgrades you get to make the HyperX SoloCast sound better for creators, streamers, podcasters, and those who are working from home. 

Being too cold is an easy way to ruin an outdoor experience in the winter. Fieldsheer is one company working to keep adventurers warm with its line-up of battery-powered heated gear. I got my hands on the top-of-the-line Pinnacle Parka jacket as well as the Desert Storm Heated gloves. Both pieces use Fieldsheer’s mobile warming technology, and so far, they’ve kept me warm on some cold Indiana days and have a stylish design as well. Be sure to hit the video below to see all of the details. 

With Meta selling over 10 million of their entry-level Quest 2 headsets, the market for accessories is growing. One handy way to store and charge your new all-in-one VR headset and controllers is a dedicated dock. We took a look at the Anker charging dock last year, but now we’ve got our hands on the flashy new NexiGo Quest 2 charging dock. Be sure to hit the video below to see all of the details. 

Ultra-short throw projectors have been gaining traction lately as an alternative to large smart TVs, but they come at a price. The Wemax Nova features Android TV with thousands of apps, can project an image up to 150 inches, and is listed at $2,699 but often features deals to make that more affordable. At the time of writing, the Nova can be purchased for $270 off on Amazon. But before you buy, be sure to check out the video below to see all of the details.

The new CASETiFY Squid Game AirPods Pro case featuring the show’s animatronic Young-hee doll is the next product to get the Tested with 9to5Toys treatment. Are the Squid Game AirPods Pro cases the same quality and build as other CASETiFY models? Does the art get in the way of the functionality of your Apple charging case? And will the Young-hee artwork come to life in the middle of the night and force me to play children’s games to the death? Yes, no, and maybe. Head below for our review of the Young-hee Squid Game AirPods Pro Case in the latest Tested with 9to5Toys. 

All of the LEGO 2022 action is now underway, with a new collection of sets just hitting store shelves. Here at 9to5Toys, we’re beginning to check out what the new year has to offer, first taking a hands-on look at the just-released LEGO Hoth AT-ST. But is this new variant of a classic Imperial walker worth adding to your Star Wars collection? We take a closer look down below. 

While 2021 saw an unprecedented three USC LEGO Star Wars sets released, only one of them earns the title of being the largest creation from a galaxy far, far away this year. That would be the new UCS LEGO AT-AT, which towers over the current lineup with nearly 6,800 pieces. But is the set worth it’s lofty $800 price tag? Let’s take a closer look at this behemoth of a kit to end 2021.

As a gamer in my mid-30’s, I’ve spent a lot of time traversing the worlds that have been created by Bungie: From Myth II: Soulblighter to Oni, and of course, countless hours in Halo and in Destiny. While I don’t have quite the playtime in D2 as I did in D1 or maybe even the original Halo at LAN parties, the Bungie 30th Anniversary Pack for Destiny 2 was a fun nostalgia trip. At $25, spoiler alert, it’s not going to be a must-buy for every guardian in the Destiny 2 universe, but for collectors and hardcore Destiny 2 players, it’s a fun look back mixed with enjoyable new content. Check out the video below to see all of the details.